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About Hearing Screening Test

This information is intended for general information only and should not be considered as medical advice on the part of Health-Tourism.com. Any decision on medical treatments, after-care or recovery should be done solely upon proper consultation and advice of a qualified physician.

What is hearing screening?

This is a procedure that checks an individual’s hearing to see if they might have hearing loss. The procedure is easy and painless and takes a few minutes only. Hearing loss can affect a person’s social skills and their ability to communicate. If you pass a hearing screening it means that you have no hearing loss. If you fail the screening further evaluation is required.

Who can have hearing screening?

A further test is usually done if the results are inconclusive, which is known as a hearing evaluation. This is a comprehensive assessment usually done by an audiologist. An audiologist uses different tests to determine the nature and degree of the hearing loss and recommend the best treatment options.

Infants and babies: Babies should undergo hearing screening before they are one month old. It is recommended they be screened after birth before leaving the hospital. If they fail the screening they should get a full hearing test as soon as possible, but not later than three months of age. The earlier a child with hearing loss starts getting help the more likely they will be able to reach their full potential. If you suspect your child has hearing loss speak with your doctor.

Older Babies and Children: If you suspect a child might have hearing loss, you should ask the doctor to screen them as soon as possible. Children who are at risk for delayed onset hearing loss, acquired or progressive hearing loss should have at least one hearing test before three years of age.

Older Children and Adults: It is recommended that school age children be periodically screened for hearing loss at their schools. The most commonly used screen involves a pure tone test. Adults can be screened at a doctor’s office.

Types of hearing loss

Acquired or progressive hearing loss: This is hearing loss thaw worsens over time.

Delayed onset hearing loss: This is hearing loss that develops after the baby is born.

Full Hearing Test

If you do not pass a hearing screening the doctor will recommend a full hearing test. His is also known as an audiology or hearing evaluation. This test is done by an audiologist. This is an expert in testing hearing. The audiologist will ask questions about birth history, hearing loss and ear infections in the family.

There are many kinds of tests an audiologist can do to find out if a person has a hearing loss, how much of a hearing loss there is, and what type it is. The hearing tests are easy and not painful.

Tests used by audiologists include:

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Test: This test checks the brain’s response to sound. It is also called Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) Test. This test does not rely on the patient’s response behavior and can be used on the patient even when they are sound asleep.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): This test checks the inner ear’s response to sound. A patient can be sound asleep as this test is performed.

Behavioral Audiometry Evaluation: This test checks how a person’s responds to sound overall. It tests the functions of all parts of the ear. The patient must be awake so as to actively respond to the sounds heard during the test.